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Harvard University · 3 days ago

Director of Development, Parents, Major Gifts

Cambridge, MA

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

10+ years exp

Harvard University is a vibrant community dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment. The Director of Development for Parents and Major Gifts will lead fundraising efforts targeting non-alumni parents, collaborating with various teams to develop strategic plans and manage a portfolio of prospects to secure significant donations.

EducationHigher EducationUniversities

Growth Opportunities

No H1B

Responsibilities

Participate as a leader on the team and across the organization to drive vision setting and fundraising plan development. Educate, mentor, counsel, and motivate staff

In consultation with the Senior Executive Director of Development, Major and Planned Gifts, and partners across Alumni Affairs & Development, develop and provide strategic direction for FAS non-alumni parents' major- and principal-gift fundraising strategy. This includes leveraging faculty and administrator travel, alumni volunteers, and prospect engagement events to advance fundraising objectives

Responsible for successfully meeting annual goals with a portfolio of highly rated non-alumni parent households at various stages of their relationship with Harvard throughout the gift cycle. A key responsibility is the development and execution of comprehensive prospect strategies designed to secure six-, seven-, and eight-figure gifts from the assigned pool. Strategy is often set in conjunction with other officers in the FAS and University Development Offices. Annual portfolio metrics will be reviewed with the Senior Executive Director of Development, Major and Planned Gifts, and progress towards goals will be evaluated monthly

As a member of the Major and Planned Gifts leadership team, the Director will coordinate with other senior members of the FAS development team to help further fundraising efficiency and efficacy with the non-alumni parent population. In coordination with the FAS senior staff, the Director will develop and implement moves-management processes to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major and principal donors. Develop, test and refine the case for FAS key fundraising priorities and gift opportunities

Work closely with Events, Academic and Donor Engagement, and Academic and Development Planning teams to implement prospect engagement strategies such as events, interaction with academic leadership, and compelling gift conversations and proposals

This position requires overnight travel; availability/flexibility to travel is required for this position

Qualification

Fundraising strategiesProspect managementMajor gift fundraisingProject managementTeam leadershipPublic speakingInterpersonal skillsWritten communicationCollaborationAttention to detailFlexibilitySelf-motivation

Required

Minimum of 10 years of experience in development or related transferable skills

Bachelor's degree required

You will be expected to work certain events/campus activities, such as reunions each Spring, and participate in department retreats that are taking place on campus in Cambridge, MA

Strong ability to quickly earn trust of staff and prospects. Must have demonstrated experience engaging prospects/clients in thoughtful, personal conversations with tact and diplomacy

Must be mission-driven and have a demonstrated ability to work well with others in a collaborative manner

Requires attention to detail, poise, and diplomacy given interaction with senior administration members and senior faculty; superb written and oral communication skills; flexibility; and the ability to multi-task without losing focus on both short- and long-term goals

Experience briefing and staffing high-level academic or other leaders in prospect meetings

Must also demonstrate ability and interest for management and administrative functions, such as nurturing and mentoring professional staff, hiring and evaluating staff, and managing basic office functions

Excellent interpersonal, public speaking, written communication, and presentation skills required

Computer literacy required; must have experience with Windows and databases

The ideal candidate requires a sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of major gift fundraising principles and practices, extremely high levels of professionalism, collegiality, self-motivation, organization, and familiarity with the goals and objectives of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and of the entire Harvard Alumni Affairs and Development organization

Preferred

Advanced knowledge of fundraising strategies and techniques preferred; experience managing a prospect pool and a proven record of moving prospects strategically through stages of identification, cultivation, solicitation, closure and stewardship